Do Soccer Jerseys Shrink? What Washing and Drying Really Do

Not much, if you wash them cold and hang them to dry. Most modern football shirts are made from synthetic fabric that holds its shape far better than cotton, and the jerseys on our site list polyester as their material. A cold wash won't make yours a size smaller.

Heat is a different story. A hot wash or a tumble dryer rarely shrinks a polyester jersey the way it shrinks a cotton T-shirt, but it can distort the fabric, pucker seams, and crack or lift printed names, numbers and heat-applied patches. So the real question isn't "will it shrink?" but "will heat damage it?", and the answer to that one is yes.

Why polyester jerseys hold their size

Cotton shrinks because its natural fibres swell with water and tighten as they dry, especially with heat. Polyester is a synthetic fibre that's set with heat during manufacturing, so ordinary washing water barely moves it. That's why a polyester football shirt that fits when you buy it will still fit after dozens of cold washes.

If anything, you may notice the opposite: a shirt can feel very slightly looser after it's been worn and washed a few times, as the knit relaxes. That's normal.

What the dryer actually does

High heat is the one thing polyester doesn't like. It can leave the fabric looking puckered or shiny, distort thin areas such as collars and cuffs, and it's especially hard on the parts that were added with heat in the first place: printed names and numbers, flocked sleeve patches and some badges. Our care instructions say to avoid tumble drying for exactly this reason.

One accidental trip through the dryer usually leaves a shirt looking fine. Make it a habit and the print is the first thing to go.

Do retro or cotton-rich shirts shrink more?

Any garment with a high cotton content can shrink, which is why the care label is the one to trust for a specific item. Our jerseys list polyester in their product details, so the cold-wash, hang-dry routine is the right one for them. Casual cotton T-shirts are a different fabric and can behave differently.

Can you shrink a jersey on purpose?

It's a common question when a shirt comes out too big, and the honest answer is: not reliably. Because polyester doesn't shrink much in water, the only way to force it is with high heat, and that's also what damages the fabric, the crest and any print. You'd be risking the shirt for a result you can't control.

If a shirt from us is too big and it's unused, unworn and in its original condition and packaging, you can return it within 30 days of delivery under our Refund Policy. Personalised shirts can't be returned. For a plain shirt you want to keep, a tailor can take in the side seams.

Get the size right from the start

Since washing won't change the size, the size you order is the size you'll wear. Our jersey pages list flat measurements and a height and weight guide for each size. This is the Fan Version (standard fit) chart from those pages:

To use it, lay a shirt you already like flat and measure straight across the chest, armpit to armpit, then compare. Measurements can vary by 1–2cm between batches. Player Edition shirts are cut slimmer, 4cm narrower across the chest in the same size, so if you're between sizes in a Player Edition, size up.

A washing routine that keeps the fit

• Inside out, cold (30°C), gentle cycle.
• Similar colours only; no bleach and no fabric softener.
• Hang to dry; no tumble dryer.
• No iron over names, numbers or badges.

There's a fuller walk-through in our guide to washing a jersey with a printed name and number.

Standard-fit shirts to start with

Frequently asked questions

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